Toronto Zoo Breeds Critically Endangered Toad

The conservation team at the Toronto Zoo successfully bred the critically endangered Puerto Rican crested toad. They shipped 26,000 tadpoles to Puerto Rico to be released into the wild.

“This is a very proud moment for our conservation team as it not only represents release of an endangered species but we also followed recommendations given to the Species Survival Plan which led to successfully breeding toads from the north and south of Puerto Rico,” said Bob Johnson, Curator of Reptiles and Amphibians.

“Traditionally, researchers have always kept and bred the north and south toads separately. This time, on the recommendation of Canadian research geneticist Kaela Beauclerc from Trent University, we are able to increase the genetic makeup of the resulting offspring”, explains Johnson.

Approximately 26,000 tadpoles were successfully bred by the conservation team. Photo by Toronto Zoo.